Two Voices, One Culture: Korean Literature Shines in London with Juhea Kim and Silvia Park

The Korean Cultural Centre UK hosted a pair of remarkable literary events in April 2025, spotlighting two rising voices in Korean literature: Juhea Kim and Silvia Park. Celebrating the UK releases of City of Night Birds and Luminous, the events offered British audiences an engaging glimpse into the rich, evolving spectrum of Korean storytelling.

On Monday, 15 April, the Centre welcomed Juhea Kim for an evening talk marking the launch of her latest novel City of Night Birds. Following her international bestseller Beasts of a Little Land, Kim’s new work—selected by Reese’s Book Club—continues to draw global attention. In a conversation with acclaimed author and journalist Alice Robb, Kim delved into the artistic inspirations behind her novel, including her background in dance and music, her reflections as an artist, and her emotional connection to various cities that shaped the story. The dialogue touched on themes of language, art, and international activism, offering a deeply personal window into Kim’s creative world.

Two days later, on Wednesday, 17 April, an online talk was held to celebrate the UK release of Silvia Park’s debut novel Luminous. Born in Seoul and recognised for her work in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, Park brings a bold voice to speculative fiction. Luminous—currently in development as a TV series by Media Res Studio—portrays a future unified Korea where humans and artificial intelligence coexist in a layered SF detective narrative. Themes of memory, diaspora identity, and the emotional and ethical complexities of post-human existence are sensitively explored. Park was joined by author Ela Lee (Jaded) for a wide-ranging discussion that bridged literature, advanced technology, and questions of identity.

By presenting these two very different but equally powerful works, the Korean Cultural Centre UK continues to foster meaningful dialogue between Korean writers and international readers. These events underscored the global resonance of contemporary Korean literature—and its ability to navigate the boundaries of genre, history, and imagination.

Dr. Seunghye Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK, had commented ahead of the event.

"Korean literature is a cultural legacy of the future. Presenting it in the literary heartland of the UK—through sensitive and skillful English translation—is an effort to reach beyond language and speak to the very core of the human spirit. It is deeply meaningful for us to share the aesthetics of Korea through stories that capture the winding depths of the human heart in the midst of life’s struggles."

For more details about ‘City of Night Birds: Author Juhea Kim in conversation with Alice Robb’, ‘Luminous: Author Siliva Park in Conversation with Ela Lee’ , please visit kccuk.org.uk